The background for the commemoration was a violent incident in Vikersund. 55-year-old Runar Magnussen was beaten in the open street about three weeks ago. A boy in his late teens has been arrested and charged with grievous bodily harm. The 55-year-old has explained that he was accused of racism, but denies this himself. A video of the violent episode has been circulated on social media.
FRP leader Sylvi Listhaug was among those who announced their arrival at the torch train on Tuesday. Eventually, right-wing radical groups came into play. On Monday evening it was decided that the train would be cancelled.
– We started to get a very bad feeling that this was going in a completely different direction. But this was never about immigration. The marking suddenly became much bigger than what was intended – and with a completely different message than what we wanted to stand for, says co-organiser Susanne Sofie Berg to VG.
On Tuesday morning, Heggen church was tagged with the words “kill whites” and “KKK torchlight procession”. The police are investigating the tagging, and church guardian Nina Brokhaug Røvang calls the case sad.
– It goes against what we stand for. We are a church for everyone, she tells VG.
Several have expressed that they will gather in Vikersund, even if the torchlight procession has been cancelled. That is why the police are keeping an extra close eye on Tuesday evening.
– We read what is in the media and follow social media too, says section leader at Modum police station Verner Svendsen to Drammens Tidende.
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2024-08-28 06:52:51
